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Do I Need to Put Lime on My Coastal Grass?

The soil becomes increasingly sandy with lower organic and nutrient levels the closer you live to the ocean. Decades of salt spray residues also affects the pH of the soil in coastal gardens and lawns. Among the turf grasses most tolerant of ocean-side landscapes include zoysia, St. Augustine and seashore paspalum. Lime is used to adjust soil pH, primarily to raise pH to make soil more alkaline. Do not arbitrarily scatter lime on lawns without first knowing the soil conditions in which the lawn grasses grow.

  1. Test the Soil

    • Conduct a soil test on your lawn soil by taking several samples of soil across your property. Mix the soil into a container and take it to your local cooperative extension office. Your state land-grant university provides a thorough soil analysis for a nominal fee. Included in the results are soil pH, composition of soil particles and the percentage of nutrients extant for plant growth. Soil test results inform you if any action, such as adding lime or fertilizer, is appropriate.

    Importance of pH

    • Not all plants grow well in alkaline soil conditions. The main reason is that a high pH soil can bind mineral ions so that plant roots cannot effectively absorb the nutrients. This is particularly true of iron, magnesium and manganese. Nutrient deficiencies in plants, including lawn grasses, manifests as unusually yellow or sparse-growing lawns. Many lawn grasses, including those tolerant of seaside conditions, grow better if the soil is neutral to slightly acidic in pH.

    Lime

    • Lime, sold as pellets or ground powder, is a compound comprised mainly of calcium or calcium and magnesium. The effect of spreading lime across soil is an increase in soil pH -- making it more alkaline. Liming a lawn is most appropriate when, through the results of a soil test, soil is overly acidic and prevents the uptake of nutrients for plant health and growth. Extremely acidic soils can create toxic conditions for plants since some minerals are in such high concentrations. Lime provides calcium to the soil, which can aid in root uptake of zinc, copper and phosphorus. Too much lime can also damage your lawn.

    Recommendations

    • Do not lime your coastal lawn unless the results from a soil test indicate an extremely acidic soil. Moreover, a horticultural agent or turfgrass specialist with the cooperative extension service can answer questions about the need for lime or any caveats or tips associated with lime use on your garden soil. If your soil is already neutral to alkaline in pH, adding lime will likely cause more harm than good, as it will create an even more alkaline soil, leading to nutrient deficiencies. Instead of adding lime, a special lawn fertilizer formulation may be beneficial to your coastal lawn based on the results of the soil analysis.

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Growing Grass
  1. When Can I Put Lime on My Yard?
  2. Grass Care With Lime
  3. What Effects Does Lime Have on Grass?
  4. Water and Lime on New Grass
  5. The Effects of Lime on Grass Production
  6. Sod & Lime
  7. Is Lime Poisonous for Grass?
  8. Things You Need to Plant Grass
  9. Do I Need Straw or a Blanket on Grass Seed?
  10. Can I Plant Grass With Lime?
  11. Vegetables That Need Lime
  12. Can I Put Lime Juice on My Plant?

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